Nagarathar
{{Short description|A Hindu mercantile caste}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox ethnic group
| image = Chettinad palace.jpg
| caption =
| group = Nagarathar
| poptime =
| population = c. 75,000-1,00,000{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/magazine/nagarathars-in-north-america/article5459738.ece|title=Nagarathars in North America|date=14 December 2013|work=The Hindu|first=S.|last=Muthiah}}
| popplace = India: Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu, Chennai
| langs = Tamil
| rels = Shaivam
| related = Tamil people
| native_name = நகரத்தார்
| native_name_lang =
}}
The 'Nagarathar is a Tamil caste found native in Tamil Nadu, India. The Nagarathar community was not a single caste, but developed from an assortment of related subcastes, which in course of time came under the single banner named Nagarathar.
List of Nagarathar community people that use Nagarathar as the caste name are
- Nattukottai Nagarathar
- [[:ta:அருவியூர்_நகரத்தார்|
Aruviyur Nagarathar]]https://ta.wikipedia.org/wiki/தமிழ்நாடு_அரசு_இடவொதுக்கீட்டுப்_பட்டியல்https://archive.org/details/aruviyur-vadakku-valavu-nagarathar-kural-book-may-2025-kural-bookhttps://books.google.ca/books/about/History_of_Aruviyur_Nagarathar_Part1_fro.html?id=kSj296Lm7ogC&redir_esc=y
- Uruthikottai Nagaratharhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:உறுதிக்கோட்டை_நகரத்தார்_ஓலை_சுவடி.jpg
- Elur Chetty Nagarathar (Nagercoil)
- Vallanattu Nagarathar Chettiar
- Sundarapattina Nagarathar{{Cite book|last=Pattu Veshti Ramanathan|first=Chettiar|title=Analytical History of Nagarathar(நகரத்தார்களின் பகுத்தாய்ந்த வரலாறு)|publisher=Surya Print Solutions|year=2015|location=Sivakasi}}
- Muraiyur Nagaratharhttps://www.tamildigitallibrary.in/book-detail?id=jZY9lup2kZl6TuXGlZQdjZY2kJpd&tag=%E0%AE%9A%E0%AF%86%E0%AE%9F%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%9F%E0%AE%BF%20%E0%AE%A8%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%9F%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D%20%E0%AE%9A%E0%AF%86%E0%AE%A8%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%AE%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B4%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D#book1/
- Aathangudi Nagarathar
- Palaaiyapatti Nagarathar
- Dhanavanikar Nagarathar
- Naatrasan Kottai Nagarathar
- 96 Oor Nagarathar
- Naana Desikal
A few subsects of the Nagarathar community, such as the Nattukottai Nagarathar, were traditionally wealthy landlords and money lendershttps://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/tracking-indian-communities/nattukottai-chettiars-traced-to-more-than-65000-years-ago/.
Nagarathars are a mercantile community who are traditionally involved in commerce, banking and money lending.{{Cite book|title=Asian Trade Routes|last=Haellquist|date=2013-08-21|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781136100741|pages=150|language=en}} They use the title Chettiar and are traditionally concentrated in modern region Chettinad.{{Cite book|title=Sociolinguistics and Dialectology: Seminar Papers|last1=Agesthialingom|first1=Shanmugam|last2=Karunakaran|first2=K.|date=1980|publisher=Annamalai Univ|pages=417|language=en}} They are prominent philanthropist who funded and built several Hindu temples, Choultries, schools, colleges and universities.{{Cite book|title=Parrys 200: A Saga of Resilience|last=Ramaswami|first=N. S.|date=1988|publisher=Affiliated East-West Press|isbn=9788185095745|pages=193|language=en}}
Etymology
The term Nagarathar literally means "town-dweller".{{Cite book|title=Contributions to Indian Sociology|date=2002|publisher=Mouton|volume=36|location=Contributions to Indian Sociology: Occasional Studies|pages=344|language=en}} Their title, Chettiar, is a generic term used by several mercantile groups which is derived from the ancient Tamil term etti (bestowed on merchants by the Tamil monarchs).{{Cite journal|last=West Rudner|first=David|date=1987|title=Religious Gifting and Inland Commerce in Seventeenth-Century South India|journal=The Journal of Asian Studies|volume=46|issue=2|at=p. 376|doi=10.2307/2056019|jstor=2056019|s2cid=162764761 }}
Nagarathars are also known as Nattukottai Chettiar. The term Nattukottai literally means "country-fort" in reference to their fort-like mansions.
History
Nattukottai Nagarathars were originally from Naganadu. This ancient land Naganadu is believed to be destroyed (either in an earthquake or floods) and this place was either North or North West of Kanchipuram.
Nagarathars migrated and lived in the following places:
· Kanchipuram (Thondai Nadu) – From 2897 BC for about 2100 years
· Kaveripoompatinam (Poompuhar), the capital of the early (Chola Kingdom) – From 789 BC for about 1400 years.
· Karaikudi (Pandiya Kingdom) – From 707 AD onwards.
When they were in Naganadu these Dhana Vaishyas had three different divisions:
1. Aaru (Six) Vazhiyar
2. Ezhu (Seven) Vazhiyar
3. Nangu (Four) Vazhiyar
All these three divisions were devoted to Emerald Ganesha (மரகத விநாயகர்). Only after they migrated to the Pandya Kingdom they were called as Ariyurar, Ilayatrangudiyar, and Sundrapattanathar.
Nagarathars of Ilayatrangudiyar were later called as Nattukottai Nagarathar. Ariyurar(Aruviyur) Nagarathars further split into 3 divisions: Vadakku Valavu, Therku Valavu and Elur Chetty (Nagercoil). Sundrapattanathar Nagarathars migrated to Kollam district in Kerala and their history is completely lost now since there was no record keeping.{{Cite book|last=Pattu Veshti Ramanathan|first=Chettiar|title=Analytical History of Nagarathar(நகரத்தார்களின் பகுத்தாய்ந்த வரலாறு)|publisher=Surya Print Solutions|year=2015|location=Sivakasi}}
The Nagarathar or Nattukkottai Chettiar were originally salt traders and historically an itinerant community of merchants and claim Chettinad as their traditional home.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-chmCgAAQBAJ&q=nattukottai+salt+traders&pg=PT143|title=A New Economic History of Colonial India|last1=Chaudhary|first1=Latika|last2=Gupta|first2=Bishnupriya|last3=Roy|first3=Tirthankar|last4=Swamy|first4=Anand V.|date=2015-08-20|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781317674320|language=en}} How they reached that place, which at the time comprised adjacent parts of the ancient states of Pudukkottai, Ramnad and Sivagangai, is uncertain, with various communal legends being recorded. There are various claims regarding how they arrived in that area.{{cite book|author=Pamela G. Price|title=Kingship and Political Practice in Colonial India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aqKSTs4ajsAC&pg=PA13|date=14 March 1996|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-55247-9|page=13}} Among those are a fairly recently recorded claim that they were driven there because of persecution by a Chola king{{who|date=February 2020}}. No more details are forthcoming about this story and as to why the Nagarathar left the Chola kingdom and moved away from Kaveripoompattinam to the Pandiya kingdom.
Another older one, recounted to Edgar Thurston, that they were encouraged to go there by a Pandyan king who wanted to take advantage of their trading skills. The legends converge in saying that they obtained the use of nine temples, with each representing one exogamous part of the community.
The traditional base of the Nattukottai Nagarathars is the Chettinad region of the present-day state of Tamil Nadu. It comprises a triangular area around north-east Sivagangai, north-west Ramnad and south Pudukkottai.
File:Chettinad palatial house.jpg. These were constructed between Late 18th and Early 20th centuries.{{Cite book|title=Indian & Foreign Review|date=1986|publisher=Publications Division of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India|pages=48|language=en}}]]
They may have become maritime traders as far back as the 8th century CE. They were trading in salt and by the 17th century, European expansionism in South East Asia during the next century fostered conditions that enabled the community to expand its trading enterprises, including as moneylenders, thereafter. By the late 18th century expanded them to inland and coastal trade in cotton and rice.
In the 19th century, following the Permanent Settlement, some in the Nagarathar community wielded considerable influence in the affairs of the zamindar (landowners) elite. There had traditionally been a relationship between royalty and the community based on the premise that providing worthy service to royalty would result in the granting of high honours but this changed as the landowners increasingly needed to borrow money from the community in order to fight legal battles designed to retain their property and powers. Nagarathars provided that money as mortgaged loans but by the middle of the century they were becoming far less tolerant of any defaults and were insisting that failure to pay as arranged would result in the mortgaged properties being forfeited.{{cite book|author=Pamela G. Price|title=Kingship and Political Practice in Colonial India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aqKSTs4ajsAC&pg=PA13|date=14 March 1996|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-55247-9|pages=103–104}} By the 19th century were their business activities developed into a sophisticated banking system, with their business expanding to parts of Southeast Asian countries such as Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and China.{{citation needed|date=July 2019}}
=Varna Classification=
In the absence of a proper Chaturvarna (four-fold varna) system in South India, the Nattukottai Nagarathars (also known as Chettiars) have been classified as high-class Vaishyas (merchant caste) due to their extensive involvement in trade, finance, and banking activities.{{cite book |last=Chandrasekhar |first=Sripati |year=1980 |title=The Nagarathars of South India: An Essay and a Bibliography on the Nagarathars in India and South-East Asia |publisher=Macmillan |location=New York |page=22}} Their economic prominence and wealth elevated their social status, and they were often considered above Brahmins in certain contexts.{{cite journal |last=Bayly |first=Susan |year=1989 |title=Saints, Goddesses and Kings: Muslims and Christians in South Indian Society, 1700–1900 |journal=Cambridge University Press |volume=1 |pages=317–318 |isbn=978-0521372015}}
In addition to their economic prominence, the Nattukottai Nagarathars have been renowned for their philanthropic contributions to religious and social causes. They donated generously to the construction, renovation, and maintenance of numerous Shiva and Vishnu temples across Tamil Nadu and other regions, leaving a lasting legacy in the religious and cultural heritage of South India.{{cite book |last=Ramaswamy |first=Vijaya |title=Historical Dictionary of the Tamils |publisher=Scarecrow Press |year=2007 |isbn=9780810864450 |location=Lanham |page=146}}: "The Chettiars donated vast sums for the construction of temples dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu, with their wealth leaving a religious legacy."{{cite book |last=Raman |first=K. R. |year=2010 |title=The Temple Town Economy in South India |publisher=Routledge |location=London |page=68 |isbn=9780415544597}}: "The Nagarathars funded several iconic temples, especially in Tamil Nadu, as a mark of their religious devotion and status." This charitable tradition further elevated their social standing and cemented their role as patrons of South Indian religious institutions.
Furthermore, some Nattukottai Chettiars ascended to kingship through their wealth and influence. Although kings are traditionally associated with the Kshatriya varna in the chaturvarna system, the Chettiars' rise to power was based on their economic achievements rather than hereditary lineage.{{cite book |last=Ramaswamy |first=Vijaya |title=Historical Dictionary of the Tamils |publisher=Scarecrow Press |year=2007 |isbn=9780810864450 |location=Lanham |page=145}}
Religious influence
The nine temples connected with the Nagarathar community include: Ilayathakudi, Iluppaikkudi, Iraniyur, Mathur, Nemam, Pillayarpatti,{{cite book|author=Aline Dobbie|title=India: The Elephant's Blessing|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ckpEd4emnCkC&q=India:+The+Elephant%27s+Blessing&pg=PA101|date=2006|publisher=Melrose Books|isbn=1-905226-85-3|page=101}} Soorakudi, Vairavanpatti, and Velangudi.{{Cite web |url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/arts-and-culture/heritage/article25547717.ece|title=Chettinad's legacy|date=2018-11-20|work=Frontline|access-date=2018-12-27|language=en}}
Nagarathars also celebrate Pillaiyar Nonbu, which starts twenty-one days after Thirukarthigai, the last day of Karthigai Deepam.{{Cite web |title=தொன்மையும், பழமையும் நிறைந்த பிள்ளையார் நோன்பு |url=https://www.maalaimalar.com/devotional/devotionaltopnews/2019/01/12111723/1222487/pillayar-nonbu.vpf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220130062815/https://www.maalaimalar.com/devotional/devotionaltopnews/2019/01/12111723/1222487/pillayar-nonbu.vpf |archive-date=30 January 2022 |access-date=30 January 2022 |work=Maalaimalar |language=ta}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.vikatan.com/spiritual/gods/144502-glory-of-pillayar-festival|title=களங்கம் போக்கும், கவலைகள் தீர்க்கும் பிள்ளையார் நோன்பு!|language=ta|work=Ananda Vikatan|access-date=30 January 2022|archive-date=30 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220130062812/https://www.vikatan.com/spiritual/gods/144502-glory-of-pillayar-festival|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title=பொருள் வரவை பெருக்கும் பிள்ளையார் நோன்பு |url=https://www.maalaimalar.com/devotional/devotionaltopnews/2018/04/20140718/1158008/vinayagar-viratham.vpf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220130062814/https://www.maalaimalar.com/devotional/devotionaltopnews/2018/04/20140718/1158008/vinayagar-viratham.vpf |archive-date=30 January 2022 |access-date=20 April 2018 |work=Maalaimalar |language=ta}}
Cuisine
{{See also|Chettinad cuisine}}
Famous personalities
- Pattinathar,{{cite book|title=Rajah Sir Annamalai Chettiar|author=Krishnaswami Nagarajan|publisher=Annamalai University, 1985|page=7}} a philosopher and ascetic who belonged to the 10th or 14th century CE
- Karaikkal Ammaiyar,{{cite book|title=Census of India, 1961, Volume 25, Part 6|author=India. Office of the Registrar General|publisher=Manager of Publications, 1969|page=136}} a Saivite saint and one of the 63 Nayanmars
- Raja 'Sir' Annamalai Chettiar, Raja of Chettinad{{cite book|title=Current Affairs December 2015 eBook: by Jagran Josh|author=Jagran Josh|page=301|publisher=Jagran Josh}}
- Alagappa Chettiar, businessman and philanthropist
- A. C. Muthiah, Indian industrialist{{cite book|title=Historical Dictionary of the Tamils|author=Vijaya Ramaswamy, Jawaharlal Nehru University|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield, 2017|page=98}}
- Kavingar Kannadasan, famous poet and cinema lyricist
- Kavingar Kanavudasan, famous poet
- Thyagarajan Chettiar, businessman
See also
References
{{Commons category|Nagarathar}}
{{Reflist}}
=Resources=
- Rajeswary Brown. (1993). Chettiar capital and Southeast Asian credit networks in the inter-war period. In G. Austin and K. Sugihara, eds. Local Suppliers of Credit in the Third World, 1750-1960. New York: St. Martin's Press.
- David Rudner. (1989). "Banker's Trust and the culture of banking among the Nattukottai Chettiars of colonial South India". Modern Asian Studies 23(3), 417–458.
- {{cite book|author=David West Rudner|title=Caste and Capitalism in Colonial India: The Nattukottai Chettiars|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QQSjQgAACAAJ|year=1994|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-08350-9}}
- Heiko Schrader. (1996). "Chettiar finance in Colonial Asia". Zeitschrift fur Ethnologie 121, 101–126.
- {{cite book|author=Yūko Nishimura|title=Gender, Kinship And Property Rights: Nagarattar Womanhood in South India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZyNuAAAAMAAJ|year=1998|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-564273-5}}
{{Chettinad Villages}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Social groups of Tamil Nadu